INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

William C. Bosher, Jr.
Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

Emerging Literacy Workshops

The Department of Education is pleased to announce three (3)
regional workshops for supervisors, principals, teachers,
and paraprofessionals who work with public school preschool
and kindergarten programs. The workshops will focus on the
conditions for literacy and ways in which early childhood
teachers can ensure these conditions are appropriately
presented in their classrooms.
Extensive research has repeatedly identified the following
conditions as essential for early literacy development:
phonemic awareness, knowledge of letter-sound associations
(phonics), and a rich print context/environment. Workshop
presenters will share strategies to incorporate the sounds
of language, rhyming words, vocabulary development, and
phonics within rich print and oral language contexts.
Kindergarten teachers should note that these conditions are
reflected in the English Standards of Learning for
kindergarten.
Workshop participants will select from several concurrent
sessions, including Feature Presentations of successful
practices by fellow educators and Showcase Presentations of
instructional programs, new technology-based programs, and
other materials to support early literacy.
There is no registration fee; however, priority will be
given to those serving preschool programs with kindergarten
educators being accepted as space is available. Lunch and
refreshments will be provided at no cost to participants and
certificates for recertification will be distributed at the
close of the workshop. The workshops are scheduled from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following Saturdays:
Supts. Memo. No. 44
Page 2
March 1, 1996
March 30, 1996 Rockingham County Turner Ashby High School
April 27, 1996 Norfolk Berkley/Campostella
Early Childhood Center
May 4, 1996 Wythe County Spiller Primary School
Registration materials will be sent to persons in your
school division who have primary responsibility for the
preschool programs and to each elementary school.
Registration forms should be completed and returned to Ms.
Pat Lankford (see the address on the registration form) by
the appropriate deadline. For additional information you
may contact Jenna Clayton at 804/786-2102 or Kitty Rodgers
at 804/225-2662.
WCBJr/pl
Enclosure: A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
will be sent to the superintendent's office
Attachment: Supts. Memo. No. 44
EMERGING LITERACY WORKSHOP
REGISTRATION FORM
Name
School Name and Address
School Phone No. FAX
Home Phone No.
I wish to attend: Registration Deadline
March 30, 1996 Rockingham County March 19, 1996
April 27, 1996 Norfolk April 12, 1996
May 4, 1996 Wythe County April 19, 1996
Program with which I work: My position within this program is:
Virginia Preschool Initiative Teacher
Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional/Assistant
Title 1 Principal
Even Start Supervisor/Administrator
School Division Head Start Other
Occupational Child Care
Family Literacy/Adult Education
School Division Migrant Program Special accommodations needed:
Kindergarten
Vegetarian meal
Auditory assistance
Other
An agenda and directions will be sent with your confirmation letter.
Please notify us of cancellations and/or substitutions as soon as possible.
A waiting list will be maintained to fill cancellations. For information
on space available after the registration deadline, please call Pat
Lankford at (804) 225-3488.
MAIL OR FAX THIS FORM TO:
Ms. Pat Lankford
Office of Elementary/Middle School Instruction
Virginia Department of Education
PO Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
FAX: (804) 786-1703